Officials find West Nile virus in Clifton

CLIFTON - The City's health department is urging residents to remove standing water on their property and be mindful of insect bites after a sample of mosquitoes taken from an Athenia section home last week tested positive for West Nile virus.

Eric Green, superintendent of Passaic County's Mosquito Control department, said a resident originally complained late last month about a nuisance related to an influx of mosquitoes around her Scoles Avenue neighborhood.

Following an inspection, larval habitats were observed on a nearby property in standing water held in several large plastic containers.

Traps set by the department's biologist on Aug. 8 yielded a number of mosquitoes. The insects caught in the trap were sent to the state's board of health for testing on Aug. 14 and the results showed that the samples tested positive for West Nile virus.

"We're concerned and wanted to get the information out," said Clifton Health Officer John Biegel. "People have to be alert when they go outside.

The City's health department issued a citation to the homeowner where the samples were extracted. Department staff removed the stagnant water issue and mosquito control personnel discarded the larval habitat, Green said.

Mosquitoes go through a larval and pupal stage in water which takes about 7-10 days before they emerge as adults and can fly, he explained.

"What commonly happens is that homeowners, especially those in more urban areas, have containers which fill up with water. When that water starts to stagnate it's the perfect habitat for an adult female to leg their eggs in," Green said.

On Aug. 13, the area was treated with adulticide, an insecticide used to kill adult insects, officials confirmed.

Early signs of West Nile come in the form of flu-like symptoms. About 20 percent of confirmed cases develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, nausea, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, Biegel said. Most people with this form of the virus recover completely, though fatigue can last for weeks or months.

"If anyone has any flu-like symptoms, they should definitely visit their doctor," Biegel said.

According to Center of Disease Control data, however, 75 percent of individuals who become infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.

"Most people might not even know that they're sick," Green agreed. "They may just have some mild symptoms which pass."

Less than 1 percent of people infected with West Nile develop serious neurologic illnesses such as encephalitis or meningitis, the inflammation of brain or surrounding tissues. Severe symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors seizures and paralysis. Only about 1 in 10 people diagnosed with these West Nile-related illnesses die, the CDC says.

"As is the case with any disease, the elderly, young and immune-compromised are always at a greater risk than someone who is healthy," said Biegel, adding that it can become serious and even fatal should an infection in brain, such as encephalitis, occur in a patient.

There are no vaccine or antiviral treatments available to combat the virus though over-the-counter pain relievers can help relieve fever or other symptoms. In severe cases, patients may be hospitalized to receive IV fluids or pain medication.

"There's not really any medication," Green said. "All they can do is manage the symptoms and try to prevent complications."

West Nile cannot be transmitted through person to person contact, officials said. It can only be contracted through a mosquito carrying the virus.

Consequently, when outside, the state department of health recommends residents apply insect repellent which contains DEET on clothing or exposed skin. Officials also suggest individuals wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants whenever practical and avoid outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active during dawn, dusk or evening hours.

There have not been any human cases reported in 2014, he added. The only recorded case of an infected person this year was in Gloucester County.